Although the video circulating on social networks shows waves that reached a business near the beach in Monterrico, Santa Rosathe authorities rule out that it is a tsunami related to a earthquake in the Philippines.
The Insivumeh explained that the increase in waves is associated with a storm surge caused by the Tropical Storm Cristina and by alterations in sea level derived from meteorological conditions in the Pacific.
The viral publication claims that the strong waves recorded in Monterrico are a consequence of an earthquake that occurred in the Philippines and warns of a possible tsunami in Guatemala.
However, both the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) like the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) They discarded that version.
Increase in waves and swell
In a special bulletin issued on June 8, Insivumeh explained that in recent days Tropical Storm Cristina has been forming in the Pacific, which has generated winds of between 40 and 50 kilometers per hour in that region, in addition to an increase in sea level due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure, a phenomenon known as “inverted barometer.”
The institution noted that last week an anomaly of up to 0.29 meters in sea level was recorded in Ocós, San Marcos, while other monitored points on the Pacific coast also showed increases greater than 0.15 meters.
However, he clarified that this behavior is not related to extraordinary tides or a tsunami. According to the bulletin, the tide gauge stations have not detected significant increases associated with this type of events.
Furthermore, the Insivumeh predicts that Cristina’s influence will continue over the next few days and cause a significant increase in waves.
The forecasts indicate heights greater than two meters in the eight monitored points on the Pacific coast, with the highest values expected in Ocós (2.8 meters) and Champerico (2.6 meters).
The entity warned that conditions could favor episodes of storm surge and occasional coastal flooding, so it recommended that the population keep an eye on official bulletins.
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The video shows high waves on the Guatemalan coast, but there is no tsunami warning or evidence that the phenomenon is related to an earthquake in the Philippines. Authorities attribute the observed conditions to the influence of Tropical Storm Cristina and a storm surge in the Pacific.
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